Heat Stroke
A life-threatening heat illness with core body temp above 104 F and altered mental status. Cool aggressively within 30 minutes of collapse.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency where the body's cooling system has failed. Core body temperature exceeds 104 F. The primary distinguishing feature from heat exhaustion is altered mental status: confusion, agitation, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness.
Symptoms: hot skin (sometimes still sweating, sometimes dry), confusion or slurred speech, rapid pulse, body temperature above 104 F if measurable, possible seizure, possible coma.
Treatment: call 911 immediately. While waiting, cool aggressively. The gold standard is ice water immersion (lower the person into a tub of ice water up to the neck, monitoring airway). If unavailable, ice packs on neck, armpits, and groin; cool wet sheets over the body; fan blowing across the wet sheets.
Survival rates exceed 95% if core temperature is reduced below 102 F within 30 minutes of collapse. Mortality rises sharply with each additional 10 minutes of delay. Do not wait for the ambulance to begin cooling.
Long-term complications include neurological damage if the brain remains above 104 F for prolonged periods. Quick aggressive cooling prevents most of these.